Sewing machine



C. M. HORTON.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT 24. 1917.

C. M. HORTON.

SEWING MACHINE. APPLICAIION FILED SEPT, 24| 1917- Panted Feb. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qq INVENTOR UNITED lSTATES PATENT ortica.

CHARLES M. HORTON, 0F ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR '10 THE SINGER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORVPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SEWING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

Application led September 24, 1917. Serial No. 192,861.

To all 'whom it may concem.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. HoR'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing Ma chines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the-accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to sewing machlnes for stitching heavy material, such` as canvas and the like, in the manufacture of belting.

The weight of a number of plies of canvas being stitched, when they are of .the relatively considerable length usual in belts, is so great that' the Ordinar four-motion feed-dog on sewing machines 1s incapable of advancin the material step-by-stepas required. Feed-rolls located in rear of the stitch-forming mechanism have therefore been employed to carry the work under the needle. These rolls are usually of a width at least equal to the broadest belt to be made and consequently are made very heavy to resist the notinconsiderable strains placed upon them in operation. Heretofore it has been customary to support such heavy rolls from the overhanging arm of the machine, and in other ways, but this has been done in such a cumbersome fashion that it has either interfered with the operators view or access to the machine or has required alterations of the established and preferred organization of the stitch-forming mechanism for this particular heavy work.

it is an object of the present inventlon to remove the support for the heavy feedrolls from the overhanging arm and to otherwise architecturally improve machine.

lin stitching such heavy werk it is desirable to have the material t. rel at uniform speed.. and not intermittently, because the stcp-by-step advancecf ...n intermittent feed requires more power than a continuous feed at a uniform speed. lilith a ccntinuous feeding device, however, the needle must of course travel at the speed as the work while it is in the materiai. l-leretofore this has been donc in a variety of ways but so far as known a positively actuated needle arranged to vibrate in the direction of feed has never been employed in combination with a positively driven feeding mechanism located in rear of andspaced from the needle for advancing the work at a uniform speed equal to that of the needle while it is in the goods.

It is an object 0fv this'invention to combine a positively driven needle arrangedY to vibrate in the direction of feed with a positively driven feeding mechanism located in rear of and spaced from the needle in order to advance the work continuously and at the ame speed as the needle while it is in the goo s.

It is a further object of my invention to provide driving connections for accomplishing the result Stated immediately above which permit of relatively shifting the rolls from one another so as to accommodate different thicknesses of work.

It is a further object of this invention to render separation of the feed-rolls relative to yeach other for the insertion of work less irksome to the operative by providing levers of suicient mechanical advantage to require little exertion from himl and by arranging these levers conveniently at hand.

And finally it is an object of this invention to provide means for supporting the rolls parallel with one another so constructed and arranged that the rolls may be relatively shifted without disturbing their parallel relation.

Essentially the construction comprises a sewing machine having a needle ory needles vibrating in a plane parallel with the line of seam formatisn and feeding rolis located in rear of the needle or needles which are posi-` tively and continuously driven through a train of mechanism connecting the rolls with the mainshaft of the machine and permit tin the rolls to be relatively shifted.

n the accompanying drawings the invention is shown in its preferred` form but it is to be distinctly understood that they are only illustrative of the principles of the invention. In these drawings Fig. l is a rear side elevation of the machine equipped with` the invention, parts being shown in sectionl to better illustrate the construction. Fig. 2 is a front side elevation of the machine parts being shown in section and parts being omitted for convenience in illustration. Fig. 3y

5 is a plan view showing the general arrangement and relative location of the parts viewed from above.

In its preferred form the machine is of the lock-stitch type in which under thread han-y dling mechanism (not shown) located below a work-support 1 is driven from a mainshaft 2 located in an overhanging arm 3 by any suitable means such as a crank 4 and rod 5. l

The needle operating mechanism may be of any suitable form so long as it vibrates one or more needles 6 in the direction of feed. As shown the needle v6 carried by a needle-bar 7 slidably supported in a frame 8, is reciprocated by a curved link 9' connected at its upper end 10 eccentrically to a cam disk 11 and at its lower end to a pin located adjacent a needle clamp 13 where the needle-bar is provided with a collar 14 embracing a presser -bar 15 and thereby steadied. The presser-bar is provided at its lower end with a resser-foot 16 of any suitable form held yieldingly down upon the work by a spring 17, Fig. 1. Both the needlebar and the presser-bar are vibrated in a vertical plane perpendicular to the worksupport and parallel with the direction of feed when the frame 8 is swung about its pivot 18 by means of a rocker pivoted in the head of the machine as shown at 19 and provided with an upfwardly extending arm 2() carrying a follower 21 arranged in a suitable oam groove (not shown) on one side of the cam disk 11 and a second depending arm 22 having a forked lower end 23 embracing" the friction roll 24 carried by the frame. Specifically the stitch-forming mechanism forms no part of the present invent-ion being old and well known and being susce tible of replacement by any of' a variety o mechanisms in which a positive mechanical means is provided for actuating the needle up and down and back and forth in the line of Seamformation.

The feeding mechanism essentially consists of a pair of corrugated feeding rolls 30 and 31 located in rear of the stitchlng point and positively actuated in any suitable manner to advance the fabric at the same s eed substantially as the needle when it is in the goods, l

From the main-shaft the feeding rolls 30 and 31, preferably, 'but not necessarily, arranged with their axes in a vertical plane and their line of contact in substantially the plane of the Worksupport, are driven through a pinion 32, Fig. 1, on the mainshaft 2 meshing with a reducing gear 33 mounted on a stud-shaft 34 which is also equipped with a bevel-gear 35 that meshes with another bevel-gear 36 on an inclined shaft 37 supported in bearing brackets 38#- 39 located at the rear end of the machine. A worm 40, Fig. 4, on the lower end of the inclined shaft 37 drives a wormear 41 which is fast to a shaft 42, supported y bearing brackets 43 at suitable intervals on the frame of the machine, and on this shaft 42 the lower roll 31 is suitably secured for rotation about a fixed axis.y

The upper roll is spaced above and parallel to the lower roll and rotated at the same peripheral velocity by intermeshing duplicate gears 44 and 45 to one of which is suitably secured a flexible or articulated shaft 46, carried by a lever 47-48 pivoted at 49 to a fixed part of the machine and having at the end of its long arm 47 a convex surfaced bearing 50, preferably in the form of a ball, located intermediate the ends and internally of the upper roll, which is provided with an internal flange 51 to which is bolted a twopart cylindrical cup 52 having raceways for small ball bearings 53 and fixedly connected with an end section 54 of the articulated shaft 46 which passes through the ball bearing and serves to positively drive the upper roll." The ball bearing -50 may be conveniently made on the end of a bushing 55 adapted to be secured in a socket in a boss 56 at the end of the arm 47 b screws 57. The flexible shaft 46 is prefer-a ly made in three y sectionsl as shown joined together by a modification of a knuckle joint 58 in which the tongues have vtheir substantially parallel faces rounded to permit of articulation. These joints are located in line with the axis of the pivot 49 of the lever 47-48 and with the center of the ball bearing 50 which latter it is to be noted 'is preferably located directly in rear of the stitching point in the vertical plane ofseam-formation.

'lhus it will be seen the rolls are positivelv driven from the main-shaft which drives the needle through mechanism easily designed to rotate them at a peripheral velocity equal to that of the lateral velocity of the needle when it is in the goods. y

It is dseirable to provide for shifting the feed rollsfin order to facilitate the insertion of work. To this end the depending short arm 48 of the lever 47-48 is provided with an adjustable link 59 connecting it to an arm 60 on a rock-shaft 61 hung beneath the frame of the machine and extending transversely thereof to the front of the machine where a controlling lever 62-63, Fig. 2 is attached With handles at its opposite ends for convenient manipulation by the operative. An arcuate slot 64 is provided in the arm 62 of this lever and a clamp-screw 65 is tapped into the frame of the machine in line with this slot so that the level` maybe secured in position. The other arm 63*of this lever 1s apertured at 66 to receive the upper end of a rod 67, Fig. 1 which is connected at its lower end to a foot-treadle 68 located on the floor. The upper roll may thus be. lifted either by hand or foot power. When extra heavy work is being operated upon the handle of the arm 63 may be lifted and an extra heavy pressure applied to the work.

It. is also preferable to provide devices for holding the upper roll with its axis parallel to thatI of the lower roll whatever may be the distance between the axes of the rolls. Accordingly a strap or band 69, loosely positioned about the reduced end of the upper roll, is provided with diametrically opposite holes to receive the trun'nion pins 71 carried by the yoke 72 on they end of a lever 73-74pivoted at 75 and having its depending lower arm connected by a link 76`t0 the arm 60v of the rock-sliaft 61. The two levers and linkscontrolling the upper roll are of such proportion and are -con' nected at such distances from the rock-shaft 61 that the axis of the upper roll 30 is maintained in parallelism with that of the lower roll 31 when it is shifted.

It is apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the roll 30 and its ball bearing 50 have two different relative movements. As the roll is swung away from the lower roll by the bellcrank 47, 48, it tends to assume a position at an angle to roll 3 1, but the movement of bellcrank 73, 74, maintains it in parallelism with roll 31. Hence roll 30 and bearing 50 have a relative movement on an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the roll. The flexible shaft also causes the roll 30 to move on the bearing or universal joint 50 about a longitudinal axis. It will further be observed that when the supporting arm 47 is tilted upwardly, the supporting band or ring 69 will, through the action of the lever 73-74, be lifted upwardly relatively to the arm 47 or transversely of' the axis of the roll 30. In other Words, the under part of the ring 69 will be caused to approach the under side of the arm 47 as the latter is tilted upwardly; the amount of the approach compensatin for the degree to which thearm 47 is tilted and serving to elevatethe end of the roll 30 as much as the intermediate portion of such roll is elevated by the arm 47.

If desired the lever 47-48 carrying the upper roll may be stayed against the pull of the fabric during its advance under the thread by suitably securing a brace 77, Fig. 3, to the under side of the overhanging arm adjacent the vertical standard, or to any other suitably fixed part of the machine, with a 'vertical face 78 ofthe brace in flatwise abutting relation to a cheek 79 on the long arm 47 of the level Preferably, these abutting faces 78 and 79 are located as close as possible to an end of the upperroll. This arrangement, it will be seen, does not in any way hinder relative shifting of the rolls.

he presser-foot may be substantially the same as those in common use. As there is no feeddog acting to lift the presser-foot intermittently, the spring 17 for yieldingly holding the foot down upon the work need only be strong enough tovstrip the fabric from the needle when it is lifted and at other times need only be strong enough to slightly resist the advance of the work so as to keep it tight between the presser-foot and the feed-rolls.l

Itis to. be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction shown and described, as the same is only. illustrative of the principles of operation which are capable of extended application in various forms. The devices for shiftingl the rolls in parallelism, for instance, might be dispensed with for certain purposes as the ballv bearing would otherwise .permit the upper roll to tilt transverse the direction in which the fabric travels and consequently to adjust itself to the thickness of the work between therolls. Neither need both rolls be positively driven for in some classes of work a positive rotation of one might be sufiicient. Also for the articulated or flexible sectional shaft shown other forms yto understand the scopeof the invention.

While the upper roll is so heavy that ordinarily gravity may be relied upon to create enough pressure between the rolls to insure a positive and continuous advance of the work, any desired means may obviously be employed to augment the grip on the work between the rolls.-`

'Having .thus set forth the nature of theinvention, what I claim herein is 1. In a sewing machine, 1n combination,

stitch-forming mechanism including a sta-l tionary Loverhanging arm, a reciprocatory needle and mechanism independent of the work for vibrating said needle relatively to said arm and in the line of feed, positive work-feeding mechanism including rolls disposed across the seam line in rear of the needle for continuously advancing the work and means for securing said rolls in variably spaced relation.

2. In a sewing machine. in combination, a needle, means for operating said needle up and down through the work, means for vibrating said needle back and forth in the direction of seam-formation, a pair of feed rolls, means for rela-tively adjusting the same, and means carried by said adjusting means for continuously and positively rotating one of said rolls.

3. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle, means for operating said needle up and down through the work, means for vif direction of seam-formation, feed rolls `lo' yin parallelism.

4. In a sewing machine, in combination, a needle, positive means for imparting to said needle four-motions in a predetermined plane, feed rolls having their axes arranged in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the needle moves, a tilting support for one of said feed-rolls, means for maintaining a parallel relation between the feed-rolls when said support is tilted; and means for continuously and positively rotating said one of said feed rolls at an angular velocity bearing a fixed and constant relation to the speed of said positive means for imparting four-motions to the needle. y

5. In a sewing machine having an overhanging arm terminating in a head, a frame pivoted to said head, a needle, a -needle-bar slidably supported in said frame, a rotary shaft, means on said rotary shaft for reciprocating said' needle-bar in said frame and for swinging said frame upon its pivot whereby work piercing movements and vibratory sidewiseA movements may be imparted to said needle, in combination with, presser means for stripping the fabric from the needle when it is lifted` and feeding rolls having a positive driving connection with said rotary shaft whereby the linear velocity of work may be maintained the same as the sidewise velocity of the needle when it is in the work.

6. In a sewing machine, in combination, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle arranged to vibrate in the direction of feed, and feeding mechanism including a pair of separable feeding rollsin the rear of the needle, positive means for rotating one or more of said rolls, andmeans connected respectively, with the interior and exterior of one of said rolls for supporting and maintaining it parallel to the other roll.

7. In a sewing machine, in combination stitch-forming mechanism including la needle arranged to'vibratel in the direction of feed, and feeding mechanism including, apair of feeding rolls, positive means for rotating said rolls, means for supporting said. rolls in rear of the needle with their axes in parallelism, lmeans for relatively shifting said rolls to vary the distance between their axes, means for maintaining their axes in substantial parallelism in different positions of adjustment and means for securing said rolls in a lshifted position.

8. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle arranged to vibrate inthe direction of feed and a rotary main-shaft, in combination with feeding mechanism including, a pair of feeding rollsa bearing arranged internally of one of said rolls, an arm carrying said bearing and supported externally of the roll, and mechanism for positively driving said roll from said rotary main-shaft including a flexible shaft carried by said arm whereby relative shifting between the rolls is permitted without stopping the rotation 'of the one roll.

9. In a sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism including a needle arranged to vibrate in the directionof seamformation and a main-shaft for actuating the stitch-forming mechanism,`the combination of feeding mechanism including cooperatively arranged parallel feed-rolls one of which is laterally movable, a single bearing arranged internally and centrally of the laterally movable roll, a lever having an arm carrying said bearing, a pivot for said lever beyond an end of the laterally movable roll, al strap externally embracing said laterally l movable roll, a second pivoted lever connected to said strap and arranged to swing in a plane substantially parallel with the first mentioned lever, means for swinging said levers to shift the roll, and mechanism for positively driving the 4laterally movable roll and maintaining the same relative angular velocity between it and the main-shaft.

`10. In a sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism including a. needle arranged to vibrate in the direction of seam-- formation and a main-shaft for actuating the stitch-forming mechanism, the combination of feeding mechanism including cooperatively arranged parallel feed-rolls one of which is laterally movable, asingle bearing' arranged internally and centrally. of the laterally movable roll, a lever having an arm carrying said bearing, a pivot'l for said `lever beyond an end of the laterally'movable roll, a strap externally embracingsaid laterally movable roll, a second pivoted lever connected to said strap and arranged to swing in a plane substantially parallel with the first mentioned lever, common means for swinging said levers to shift the roll, and mechanism for positively driving the laterally movable roll and main aining the! same relative angular velocity betweenit and the main shaft.

11. In a sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism including a needle arranged to vibrate in the direction of seamformation and a main-shaft for actuating..v

the stitch-forming mechanism, a feeding mechanism disposed in rear ofthe needle andv including a pair of rolls whose axes are respectively fixed and movable, supporting means independent of that of the stitchforming mechanism vfor the movable roll, means for shifting said supporting means to vary the distance between the axes of the rollls, and mechanism for positively driving said rolls from the main-shaft, Said mechanism including articulated shaft sections ca-rried by said supporting means.

12. In a sewing machine having a stitch-.

forming mechanism including a needle arranged to vibrate in the direction of seamformation and actuating means therefor, work-feeding mechanism including parallel feed-rolls, one of said rolls being bodily movable sidewise and the other being relatively ixed, a ball-bearing for said movable roll arranged internally and centrally therein 'and located in rear of the needle in the direction of feed, a lever having an arm carrying said ball-bearing and also having a fulcrum, a second arm outside of said movable roll, a member for holding the end of the movable roll nearest said fulcrum, said member and said `ball-bearing determining the axis of revolution of the movable roll, a second lever connected to said member, means for operating said levers to shift said ball-bearing and said member equall distances from the fixed roll in order to maintain therolls parallel, and mechanism' for driving each of said feed-rolls so that the .travel of the work will equal substantially the travel of the needle while in the work.

13. In a sewing machine having a stitchformin mechanism including a needle arranged to vibrate in the direction of seamformation and actuating |means therefor, work feeding mechanism including parallel feed-rolls, one of dsaid rolls being bodily movable sidewise and -the other being relatively fixed, a ball-bearing for said movable roll arranged internally and centrally therein and located in rear of the needle in the direction of feed, a lever having an arm car- 4ryinglsaid ball-bearing and also having a fulcrum andA a second arm outside ofy said movable roll, a member for holding the end of the movable roll nearest said fulcrum, said member and said ball-bearing determining the axis of revolution of the movable roll, a second lever connected to said gmember, means for operating said levers to shift said ball-bearing and said member equal distances from the 'fixed roll in order to maintain the rolls parallel, and mechanism for driving each of said feed rolls so that the travel ofthe work will equal substantially the travel of the needle while in the work, said mechanism including a driven shaft fixedly connected with the movable roll' at one end and also flexible at the ball-bearing and fulcrum of the first mentioned lever. c

14. In a sewing machine having a stitchweight of the material one of the rolls, an arm carrying said bearing,l and means in addition said bearing for determinlng in conjunction therewith .the axis of revolution of the roll, said means for supporting said rolls being relatively movable to permit relative shifting of said rolls to accommodate different thicknesses of work.

15, In a sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism including a needle and a presser-foot, a feeding mechanism including a pair of rolls' located in rear of and spaced from the needle, means for rotating one or more of said rolls, and relatively movable means for supporting said rolls so that they may be shifted relatively to accommodate different thicknesses of work including a bearing having a convex surface arranged internally of one of the rolls, an arm carrying said bearing, and means for maintaining the axes of the rolls in a plane when moved relatively. s

16. In a sewing machine having stitchforming mechanism including a needle, a feeding mechanism including a pair of rolls locatedl in rear of and spaced l from the needle, means for rotating one or more of l said rolls, and `relatively movable means for supporting said rolls so that they may', be shifted relatively to accommodate d1 vferent thicknesses of work including a bearing having a convex surface arranged internally of one of the rolls, an arm carrying said bearing, a pivot for said arm spaced endwise from the roll carried thereby, and

"a brace fixed to the machine and resting against said arm adjacent the end of the roll for resisting the strain imposed by the advanced by the rolls. o

17. In a sewingmachine havmg stitchforming. mechanism including a needle, a feeding mechanism locatedin rear of the needles and including a lower feed-roll havingits axis fixed, an upper feed-roll, means for supporting said upper feed-roll parallel.

to vthe lower feed-roll, said supporting means being located to one side of said upper roll andcarrying a bearing arranged lnternally of the same, means for shifting said upper roll and for maintaining it parallel with the lower roll, and means for rotating said upper roll including an articulated shaft carried by the supporting means for the upper roll.

18. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mechanism including a pair of feed-rolls, a tiltable support extendmg interiorly of and rotatably carrying one i .so

of said feed-rolls, and means for maintaining a parallel relation'between the feed-rolls when said support is tilted.

19. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, feed mechanism including a pair of rolls, means for internally, centrally and adjustably supporting one of said rolls, means for maintaining said-adjustable roll in parallelism with. the other one, and additional means for preventing lateral displacement of said roll due to the pull of the ma` 'terial fed.

20. In va sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a needle-bar and a reciprocatory needle, means for vibrating said needle-bar along the line of stitch-formation, feedin mechanism including a pair of rolls, a tilta le support extending interiorly of and rotatably carrying one of said rolls.` flexible driving means interiorly connected to said one of said rolls, and means for maintaining said'rolls in parallelism when said support is tilted., said driving means operating to drive one of said rolls at a peripheral speedsubstantially equal to the speed of the needle along the stitching line when in the work.

21. In a sewin machine, stitch-forming mechanism inclu ing a reciprocatory and vibratory needle, feed mechanism including a pair of rolls, a bellcrank having an internal, central swivel connection with one of said rolls, a second bellcrank having a pivotal connection with one end of said lastmentioned roll, means for simultaneously actuating both bellcranks to thereby adjust said roll and maintain it in parallelism with the other roll, and means for driving said rolls to ositively feed the work andthe needle w en in the work at thesame speed.

22. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocatory and vibratory needle, feed mechanism including a pair of rolls, adjustable means for internally supporting and rotating one4 of said rolls at a central point, means for preventing displacement of said latter roll about either vertical or horizontal axes, and connections for positively rotating said rolls at the same peripheral speed as that at which the needle vibrates when in the work.

23.!In a sewin machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a reciprocatory and vibratory needle, feed mechanism including a roll, an adjustable support for said roll having a swivel connection therewith, flexible means carried by said support for rotating said roll, and means for vibrating said needle and actuating said lflexible means in unison.

24. In a sewing machlne, st1tch-form1n Y mechanism including a reciprocatory and v1- oratory needle, an adjustable feed roll having acentral pivotal support, said roll being located in rear of the needle, means for rotating the feed roll at a peripheral speed Yequal to the vibratory speed of the needle when in the work, a presser-foot for maintaining the worktaut between the stitching point and the feed roll and means independent of the feed roll for preventing lateral displacement of the same due to the pull of the work. i

25. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism includmg a reciprocatory and vibratory needle, a feed roll having a fixed support, a second feed roll, two rocking supports at one side of said second roll and pivotally connected thereto, means for simultaneously rocking said supports, whereby said second roll may be adjusted to and from the fixed roll and maintained in Vparallelism therewith, `and common means for rotating feed roll, an adjustable support for said s econd roll having a universal joint connectlon therewith, means for relatively moving said roll and joint about one axis on said joint,

'and flexible means 'carried by said support for moving said roll about another axis on."

said joint. Y

27. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism including a pivoted lframe having a reciprocatory needle, feed mechanism including two feed rolls, means for rotating said rolls and for oscillating said frame in unison therewith, andmeans at one side of one of said feed-rolls for simultaneously swinging said roll toward and from the other and for maintainingit in parallelism therewith.

28. In a sewing machine, stitch-formin mechanism including a reciprocatory and v1- bratory needle, a air of feed-rolls cooperating with said nee le, means for rotating one .of said rolls about its axis, and means for simultaneously swinging and tilting said rotatable roll about axes parallel to each other and transverse to the axis of rotation.

29. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mechanism including a `'pair of rolls, means for supporting said rolls bratory needle, a xed feed roll, a second ment, said separate means including means` l for effecting a relative tilting action between the support and said one of the rolls.

30. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mechanism including a.

pair .of rolls, means for ositively rotating said rolls, and means for s ifting one of said rolls to vary the distance between them, said [i mounted support and separate means for maintaining said rolls in substantialparallelism in different positions of adjustment, said separate means including means for relatively tilting the shiftable roll and its support.

31. In a sewing machine, stitchforming Ilmechanism, feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable member and cooperating pressure sustaining member,'means forsupporting said rotatable member substantially parallel with vthe pressure sustainingmember and comprising two spaced supports, means for shifting the rotatable member to accommodatey Work of different thicknesses and n means for maintaining the said member in ing member, two spaced bearin supports for the rotatable member one of W ich supports is tiltable,`means for tilting said last-mentioned support to shift the rotatable member `for accommodation of varying thicknecces Aof Work, and .means for. moving the other bearing support to compensate for the degree of tllt of the tiltable support and thereby maintain said members 1n parallelism.

33. In a sewing machine, stitch-forming mechanism, feeding mechanism comprising a rotatable member and a pressure sustainingmember, means for supporting said rotatable member and comprising two spaced supports one of which is tiltable, and means for moving the other lsupport to tilt the rotatable member relatively to its ,tilting support in a direction opposite to the direction in which said support is tilted, ,thereby compensating for the degree of tilt of said support and maintainingsaid members in parallelism.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this s ecication.

' i HARLES HORTON. 

